Fighting the frizz with a cleansing conditioner – Purely Perfect

In my perennial fight against frizz (-y hair), I have adopted co-washing as my method of choice for cleaning hair. There’s a little part of me that doesn’t want to admit that I only shampoo my hair once or twice a month. BUT…

I’ve been doing this for a few months now and am really happy with the results. My hair is softer, in better condition, less frizzy and dry. And most important of all, it is clean.

At the start it was hard to break a habit of a lifetime, quite literally. But after a few weeks, hair and scalp settled into the new routine, and all was well. Admittedly, I still use a traditional shampoo and conditioner a couple of times a month (sulphate, chloride, paraben and silicone free), firstly to finish off what was already in my bathroom (Pureology), and secondly to reassure myself that any build-up from styling products have been thoroughly removed. Plus, a lifelong habit is really hard to break!

So, what is co-washing? It’s all about cleaning hair with a conditioner, but not just any conditioner… a cleansing conditioner – a specially formulated product that contains agents to clean hair, but without detergents, surfactants or nasties that strip hair of natural oils. It’s ideal for curly/wavy hair.

I’ve been using Purely Perfect Cleansing Crème and I love it. Purely Perfect is the brainchild of one of the creators of Bumble & Bumble (another old favourite of mine – I still have a tube of their Brilliantine tucked away for special occasions). It uses aloe vera and a blend of essential oils as the cleansing agents. And it is silicone free (a build up of which can be damaging to hair in the long run). There is no foam and can feel a bit tricky to use at first but the results are worth persevering for. A few pumps is all it takes for cleaning my shoulder length hair (apply to damp hair, leave on for a short while whilst showering, and then rinse off). Hair is left soft and clean. I promise, hair is clean. My sister has vouched for it with a sniff of my head – clean smelling and not a flake in sight.

Now I just use one hair product in the shower and leave my hair to dry naturally, having used either a bit of Mizani Supreme Oil or Lush’s R&B. It’s cut down on how long it takes me to get ready in the mornings, and I am no longer damaging my hair with hairdryers or straighteners.

It’s been so popular that Beauty Mart, the only UK stockists, have run out, twice. It’s an investment at £35 for 236ml BUT it lasts a long time (I’ve had this bottle for 2 1/2 months and I’ve got 1/4 left), and remember it’s just one bottle in the shower.

My natural curiosity, now that I am a convert, means I will be giving other cleansing conditioners a try, just so I know what is out there. And also because this one is out of stock right now. I’ve got my eye on Wen’s sweet almond mint one.